A row over a dangerous culvert is set to continue - even though a company has offered to dig it out for free.

Doncaster-based MGH Recy-cling Ltd says it would take away ash from the site at Bradley Green in Silsden for recycling. This would leave the culvert exposed so it could be repaired.

But Bradford council insists there is no money available to pay for the repairs even if the culvert is cleared.

Parish councillors welcome the news that MGH would carry out the work. But they have once again expressed their concern at the lack of action by Bradford council over the condition of the culvert. It is more than three years since the parish council said a 'potential timebomb' was ticking away under Bradley Green.

Parish councillor and planning committee chairman Chris Atkinson, who has campaigned vigorously for the culvert to be repaired, told last Thursday's parish meeting: "If this tunnel collapses - which it could well do - then it would cost an arm and a leg to repair it."

A drain running under the green is close to collapse and could flood large parts of the town centre.

An independent report carried out last year by a Southampton company said the culvert, which runs underground for approximately 190 metres, could collapse at any time putting property and lives at risk. It said urgent repairs were needed, claiming that at one point there is a two-metre crack which may lie underneath the road across the green.

The roof sags in places and the floor is severely damaged. Large build-ups of silt have also occurred which make inspection of the last 40 metres of the culvert impossible.

MGH owner Mick Harris says his company is interested in the carbon content of the ash which would be used in the production of steel both at home and abroad. There is believed to be around 60,000 tonnes of ash on the site.

This week Mr Harris met Bradford council officers and parish councillors to discuss the culvert.

Mr Harris told the Keighley News: "We have been asked to put a plan together and send it to Bradford council."

A spokesman for Bradford council confirms the meeting took place. He says: "Officers from the council's waste management section have met representatives of a firm which specialises in recycling material from very old landfill sites.

"The firm was advised to put its proposals, which involve clearing material from a range of landfill sites across the Bradford district, in writing for further consideration by the council."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.